Don’t worry ’bout a thing, cause every little thing’s gonna be alright.
~Bob Marley

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be
~The Beatles

Doom as defined; ruin, death, fate of destiny, unavoidable ill fortune. To those of us here who know Doom intimately as a music scene and community, know its in fact a blessing, a hope, birth, and/or a wonder. One thing we can all agree on; music can calm the nerve and ease the pain with universal healing powers. Lets take this time to revel in Doom. The good kind of Doom, a collective of heavy music and kinship representing all things heavy each and every month. We’re all in this together. 

March has brought us a surge of fantastic album discoveries, with over 300 unique album votes and 21 new entries in the top 25. There are no excuses, we must listen to more music to stay sane during these times of quarantine. If you’re reading this, you’re likely as timid as we are on what the future may bring but you’re also a part of the best of the best in the heavy underground scene; Welcome to the newest edition of the Doom Charts! We’re here to help.

Welcome to Doom Charts, representing some of the finest bloggers, journalists, radio, podcasters and album reviewers from the heavy underground around the globe.  Each month, our critics submit their picks for the best new doom, sludge metal, stoner-psychedelic and heavy rock albums.  The results are compiled and tabulated into the chart below.  This is a one-stop shop for the best new albums in the world…

30. THEY WATCH US FROM THE MOON – MOON DOOM!

29. HOVENWEEP – SALVIAN JOURNEY

28. FORMING THE VOID – REVERIE

27. HYBORIAN – VOLUME II

26. ORPHANS OF DOOM – II

25. THE GONERS – GOOD MOURNING / NEW!
(GARAGE, HARD ROCK, HEAVY METAL, DOOM)
265 POINTS

(Eskilstuna, Sweden)

Nothing says good mourning like a heavy psychedelic beach van tone, swirling with a rowdy swagger and occult vibrations. For those that could never fully get into Salem’s Pot (members of), perhaps The Goners are your bag. For those that love Salem’s Pot well, you’ll find a hard time not enjoying this new project. Favorite track: Down & Out.
-BUCKY BROWN

24. STONUS – APHASIA
(DOOM, HARD ROCK, HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC)
266 POINTS

(London, UK)

APHASIA is yet another deadly weapon in the new Greek Stoner uprising! Chock full of hot Desert licks and molten metal, Stonus carve out seven huge hunks of solid rock and fashion them as idols to the Sun God.
~REEK OF STOOM

23. LORD BUFFALO – TOHU WA BOHU / NEW!
(DESERT ROCK, EXPERIMENTAL, AMERICANA, DARK FOLK)
270 POINTS

(Austin, Texas)

Tohu Wa Bohu amply demonstrates Lord Buffalo’s penchant for bleak, wind-swept Americana; Weaving and melting droned violins, slow driving bass and heavy percussion paint grim, tumbleweed-strewn landscapes of doom between the alt-folk of Chelsea Wolfe and the psychedelic Western tones of All Them Witches. Truly mesmerizing.
~REEK OF STOOM

22. WOORMS – TWITCHING, AS PREY / NEW!
(BLACKENED SLUDGE, METAL, STONER, DOOM, POST-METAL)
270 POINTS

(Sheffield, UK)

WOORMS’ second full-length Twitching, As Prey is a twisted, sneering, and joyfully bizarre onslaught of swampy low end and Crover-magnitude drumming. The wild vocals take cues from Buzzo as well, but warped and disfigured in WOORMS’ own singular sense of style. This is a bludgeoner of a sludge record that maxes out both the weird and the heavy while locking into groove after groove.
~SHASTA BEAST

21. LUNAR SWAMP – UNDERMUDBLUES / NEW!
(HEAVY BLUES, DOOM, STONER, PSYCH)
286 POINTS

(Catanzaro, Italy)

You didn’t expect such a variety on a debut album. The Italians bring all the best from different periods from 70’s doom to modern stoner. Be prepared to get excited, be sure to be fascinated. Psychedelic acidity and electrified melancholy blues will pierce your soul. And the singer is the perfect match between Jim Morrison and Glen Danzig.
~SVEMPA ALVEVING

20. DIRT WOMAN – THE GLASS CLIFF / NEW!
(DOOM, METAL, STONER, BLUES)
294 POINTS

(Ocean City, Maryland)

A mighty record that entrances the listener with a rhythmic pulse that seems to emanate from the earth’s marrow itself. Dirt Woman’s compositions are fueled by an unrelenting guitar tone that’s so potent that it feels like it can grind fissures into primordial cliff-formations. Towering riffs are kept in check by avalanche-like drumming and ethereal vocals that soar above the churning stoner-ocean that threatens to swallow you whole.
~GRAUR ZAUR

19. CEGVERA – THE SIXTH GLARE / NEW!
(FUZZ, POST-METAL, HEAVY PSYCH, STONER, SLUDGE)
315 POINTS

(Bristol, UK)

Psychedelia and dark fascinating sound landscapes gloomy and dark. All storm with a sound full of epic moments opposed by atmospheric passages whispery almost drone in which the issues become a Garden of Eden full of beauty. Here are led by psychedelic vibrations that contrast with the heaviness of most of the album. Even flirting with more spaces of post-rock, they know how to move on that side of the sound spectrum. While all slow and leaden, the duo describes their apocalypse deftly using disparate vibrations ranging from psychedelia to the rawness of the metal. With narrative film quite get going transmit sensations, either to flowery passages in which other atmospheric melody becomes velvety, or with terrifying passages coming from the darkest depths.
~ROBERTO LUCAS

18. VINNUM SABBATHI – OF DIMENSIONS & THEORIES / NEW!
(DOOM, HARD ROCK, HEAVY PSYCHEDELIC, INSTRUMENTAL)
344 POINTS

(Mexico)

The Mexican band built an album that is a real science fiction story. A narrative that is based on space sounds with lots of samplers and effects and an attractive combination of doom and heavy-psych elements sci-fi dominante spaces. Narcotic, spacey, mysterious and enigmatic are the five themes moved to outer space. That spacial world where all gravitates calmly, but in the storms of meteorites and celestial trash are reflected in heavy crude moments in an effective combination. A narrative in which the moments are accompanied by diffuse drone instrumentation always guided by a dynamic drum. Pure space rock, with plenty of mysterious phrases that make the voltage is present.
~ROBERTO LUCAS

17. HÄXAN – ARADIA / NEW!
(ROCK, PROTO, DOOM, BLUES, OCCULT)
396 POINTS

(Toronto, Ontario)

As we wonder through those sounds of yore, the blues of yesteryear, that aged doom and the proto-metal that started it all you realize that there weren’t that many bands that did it as good as HÄXAN does today. On their new album Aradia we hear that occult touch done with a golden shimmer! With a wicked glint in their eyes the foursome give a record filled concise rockers that all seem to mesmerize. Pulling you ever nearer to the bubbling cauldron… Aradia, a brilliant album that touches you right there where all the shivers start.
~JOOP KONRAAD

16. RITUAL KING – RITUAL KING
(HARD ROCK, DOOM, GRUNGE, STONER, PROGRESSIVE)
414 POINTS

(Manchester, UK)

 Another quality Ripple Music release, huge swathes of fuzz augmented with excellent vocals. This is gonna’ be massive come end of year lists … Ridiculously good Favorite track: Dead Roads.
~STEVE RODGER

Seven titanic tracks of first-degree censorial assault. ..RITUAL KING delivers breadth, width and height: the full dimensions of Modern Underground Metal in all it’s geometric gelignite. FULL REVIEW
~REEK OF STOOM

15. PUTA VOLCANO – AMMA / NEW!
(ROCK, HARD ROCK, METAL)
459 POINTS

(Athens, Greece)

Amma is an superb and eclectic collection of psychedelic tinted stoner fuzz, prog-like space rock and indie flavored alt/rock, it is an album that defies tags and genre classification simply because it is so different to anything else out there. File under E for Excellent
-FRAZER JONES

14. SLOW PHASE – SLOW PHASE / NEW!
(ROCK, HARD ROCK, METAL)
459 POINTS

(Oakland, California)

If you want to wrap yourself in a cocoon of warm and fuzzy guitar tones and sizzling 70’s inspired rock’n roll (and why wouldn’t you?) then I highly recommend this album.
~JAMEY MORRIS

13. HUMULUS – THE DEEP / NEW!
(DESERT ROCK, STONER, METAL, HEAVY PSYCH)
600 POINTS

(Brescia, Italy)

The Deep is the third full-length release from this Italian power trio and a maturing creative confidence is in full evidence here. The middle part of the album flows from huge swells of fuzz drenched stoner rock to smooth acoustic vibes, but it is the expansiveness of the opening and closing tracks that takes the breath away. Like a calm ocean, the tranquility on the surface belies the power lurking beneath. But at nearly 15 minutes apiece these two expertly crafted songs, with beautifully written lyrics, might put off some listeners. Don’t just dip your toe in the water, dive right in.
~BOB BAKER

12. WØR PIGS – BEASTS / NEW!
(HEAVY ROCK, STONER ROCK, PSYCH)
600 POINTS

(Paris, France)

WØR PIGS troop onto the aural battlefield with bludgeoning fuzz, robust vocals and a chilling atmosphere looming with divinity.
~BUCKY BROWN

11. HUNTSMEN – MANDALA OF FEAR / NEW!
(METAL, POST-METAL, AMERICANA, HARD ROCK)
690 POINTS

(Chicago, Illinois)

Mandala of Fear bridges the gap between the progressive elements of latter-day Yes and modern Elder, a 13 track opus of inventive and dexterous Rock music that blends myriad styles and genres to create a very impressive and satisfying long player
~REEK OF STOOM

10. THE HEAVY EYES – LOVE LIKE MACHINES / NEW!
(HEAVY BLUES, STONER ROCK, PROGRESSIVE FUZZ)
759 POINTS

(Memphis, Tennessee)

To me as a listener the band leave no question about what they want to do and what identity they have. That’s not a bad thing to be both mature but also hungry after 10 years of service in the music business. I will continue to listen to the album for a long time. On instant repeat right now are The Profession. With a rollicking drum line and eruption of fuzz I guess it attracts one or another Fu Manchu listener.
~SVEMPA ALVEVING

9. LOWRIDER – REFRACTIONS
(DESERT ROCK, STONER ROCK, HEAVY ROCK, SLUDGE, DOOM, FUZZ)
1056 POINTS

(Stockholm, Sweden)

Do a quick google search for legendary desert rock albums of the early 2000’s and quickly you will realize creditable lists all include Ode to IO. However, what you find is pure silence for the next twenty years. Lowrider’s latest album Refractions is an album that has been wading in the deep dark depths of our solar system. Moreover, Refractions is a black hole, a dense amalgamation of great songwriting that shows us they are still the masters of a great stoner hooks and continue with this heavy comeback. Without a second of interstellar waste, Refractions will draw you into its maelstrom of heavy and refuse to let you escape it’s void. It’ll be hard pressed to find a better spaced out track as Pipe Rider as well as the album’s tremendous opener Red River. Whatever work you do this spring into the summer this album will quickly relieve any undo stress and allow you to feel good about this beautiful music scene. Twenty years was worth the wait but let’s hope these Swedish doomsters have more spaced out riffs cooked up for another dose soon. All I can say this will more than do and help the fill an overdue hole in the scene. Get it. Do it now!
~THE DOOM LOOM

8. ROSY FINCH – SCARLET / NEW!
(HARD ROCK, METAL, GRUNGE)
1118 POINTS

(Alicante, Spain)

The Spanish trio has consolidated their reputation thanks to their musical proposal. On a scene that is already beginning to sound saturated, the band brings us a fresh proposal that balances perfectly well the sound and anger of classic grunge bands with the new trends of the stoner rock and doom metal scene. I don’t know what the rest of 2020 will bring us, but so far I can say that this is one of the best albums I’ve heard this year.
~HECTOR HURTADO

7. THE BURNING BRAIN BAND – THE BURNING BRAIN BAND / NEW!
(PROGRESSIVE, HARD ROCK, STONER, KRAUT)
1196 POINTS

(Columbus, Ohio)

Oh ya, this really burns my brain in a groovy infectious way. The tempo is hypnotic with a dynamic aura of influences and progressive musicianship through and through.
~BUCKY BROWN

6. TWIN WIZARD – GLACIAL GODS / NEW!
(DOOM, METAL, EXPERIMENTAL, NOISE DUO, HARD ROCK)
1408 POINTS

(Madison, Wisconsin)

Before you hit play on this album, just keep in mind that this is two guys. Got it? Ok, hit play…. HOLY SHIT! THAT RIFF! THAT NOISE! Those Glacial Gods are nothing but puddles after that.
~JONNY PIRIE

5. SLIFT – UMMON / NEW!
(HEAVY PSYCH, PROGRESSIVE ROCK, SPACE, GARAGE)
1920 POINTS

(Toulouse, France)

The 2nd album from the French space rock psych, garage merchants SLIFT is chock full of fuzz-drenched garage and psych/space rock built off their debut album. Monstrous walls of guitar dominate this album along with an extremely talented bassist and drummer. The work of three French space rock enthusiasts, it has incredibly detailed lo-fi space rock without aligning to a major studio or the expensive bells and whistles. This one is not to be missed.
~MARK PARTIN

4. BONE CHURCH – ACID COMMUNION / NEW!
(PROTO-METAL, HEAVY ROCK, STONER ROCK, DOOM)
1950 POINTS

(Connecticut)

If you were to look up the definition for Heavy riff drenched music, it would have the band Bone Church in it. The debut full length LP from one of Connecticut’s more unsung bands who derived their name from the ‘Bone Church’ in Prague. This is a super talented heavy psychedelic blues metal band who have incorporated doom, the occult, and the Salem witches into a 6-song killer album. Taking the DNA of Sabbath, Zeppelin, and the heavy rock that led into metal, Bone Church has conjured up a riff laden monster, one of the early contenders for best album of the year. ‘Iron Temple’ and ‘Acid Communion’ are absolute epic tunes.
~MARK PARTIN

3. SLEEPWULF – SLEEPWULF
(DOOM, HARD ROCK, STONER METAL)
1965 POINTS

(Kristianstad, Sweden)

The very first thought that entered my head was, “Is this a reissue?” Some long-forgotten Tull or Life recording liberated from the dust? Such is the sound of SLEEPWULF. From the opening zazzle of axe and bass, this is as vintage as it gets:. SLEEPWULF have delivered an album of timeless sound: an album that lovingly recreates the raw rampages of bygone heroes and celebrates the beauty of pure, unadorned heavy Rock music. A bonafide classic of the genre.
~REEK OF STOOM

2. DOPELORD – SIGN OF THE DEVIL / NEW!
(DOOM, METAL, SLUDGE, HEAVY METAL)
2220 POINTS

(Warsaw, Poland)

Sign of the Devil is the fourth album of Dopelord’s ascending evolution. An epic collection of the best and most powerful riffs they have recorded. A homogeneous, dark and overwhelming album, “Doom bastards” been the highest peak of the whole album! Sign of the Devil is the most complete work of Dopelord, Hail Satan!
~ROBERTO FUENTES

1. KING BUFFALO – DEAD STAR / NEW!
(DOOM, METAL, SLUDGE, HEAVY PSYCH)
3400 POINTS

(Rochester, New York)

With every album King Buffalo gets better with than they were on the previous one; Dead Star is no exception to that rule. This record is their newest, and perhaps most experimental release to date; right down to the alternate tuning they created during the initial stages of writing. The sounds they created with that tuning are incredible, and you really shouldn’t sleep on hearing them for yourself.
~TOM HANNO

March Spotify Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/3rUD2HQy3D86z9FkiEac8J

Special thanks to the ongoing contributors to the monthly Doom Chart.  You folks help give voice to the heavy underground:

Aaron Pickford (The Sludgelord); Adam Walsh (Earmunchies); Andy Benson (Nerve Salad); Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault); Bill Goodman (The Evil Engineer); Billy Goate (Doomed & Stoned); Rob Blasko (VolumeForever.com); Bob “Mr. Weird Beard” Baker (More Fuzz Podcast); Bobby Rayfield (Trendkill Radio); Brandon Collins(Super Dank Metal Jams); Bryan Coffey (Indy Metal Vault); Bucky Brown (The Ripple Effect);  Clint Willis (Hand of Doom Radio); Chris Beck (Doom Tomb Podcast); Chris Latta (Indy Metal Vault); Doktor420 (Stoner HiVe);  Doombeard (DoomBeardZine); Eric Varasiftsky (Stoner Rock Army); Frazer Jones (Desert Psychlist);  Geoff Leapord (Atom Heart Mutha); Graur Zaur (Crypt Guard); Héctor “Mr. Heavyhead” Hurtado (More Fuzz); Hugo Hulleman (Metalfan.nl,Orange Maze); Jamey Morris (Fistful of DOOM); Jason Roach (Indy Metal Vault); Jay Morgan (High Desert Valley Radio); Jim Thompson (Heavy in the Hills); Joe Eldridge (Shadebeast Records); John Gist, (Vegas Rock Revolution); Janny Pirie (Hour of the Riff); Joop Konraad (Stoner HiVe); Ken Elliott (Heavy Planet);  Kyle Twadelle (Stoner HiVe); Leanne Ridgeway (Riff Relevant); Lucas Klaukien (Outlaws of the Sun); Lyk (Phantasmagoria); Magnus Tannergren (Into The Void Radio); Marc-Eric Gagnon (Stonefly Effects); Marc C. Pietrek (VITRIOL, INC / A DARK UNITED FRONT); Mark Partin (The Ripple Effect); Matt Slighter (Cheeto) (Hwy 420, Core of Destruction Radio) Matthew Thomas (Taste Nation); Matheus Jacques (October Doom); Mathieu Van Der Hert (Dutch European Stoner Rock);  Mel Lie (Sunday’s Heavy Tunes); Melissa Marie (Doomed & Stoned); Melissa Spence, (Stoner Witch Radio);  Mike Williams (I Talk to Planets); Pat Harrington (Electric Beard Of Doom);  Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker (Riff Relevant);  ‘Papa’ Paul Rote (Doomed & Stoned); Reek of STOOM (Doomed&Stoned, Stoner Hive); Remi (Remi VL); Roberto Lucas (Denpa Fuzz); Roberto Fuentes (La Habitación 235); Robert Pannell (Doom Loom); Rod Reinhardt (Captain Beyond Zen); Samir Asfahani (Super Dank Metal Jams); Steve Howe (Outlaws of the Sun);  Shasta Beast (Stoner Hive); Steve Miller (Vertical Chamber Apparatus); Steve Rodger (God’s Holy Trousers); Steve Woodier (Shrieks From Below); Svempa Alveving (Into The Void Radio); Tanguy ‘Mr Fuzz’ Dupré (More Fuzz); Tom Hanno (Tom’s Album Reviews); Tom Schmahl (Rock Circuz); Tony Maim (Black Insect Laughter, Stoner HiVe); Tony Van Dorston (Fast n Bulbous)

Feel free to send in your albums to stonerdoomcharts@gmail.com where they’ll be delegated to the crew above to determine their thoughts and gather the votes at the end of the month. Leave us comments below and let us know what you think about the Charts.